Lockdown at day 16? Yes, no?

Jrose · Mar 16, 2016

I've done over 20 hatches now, both in my incubator and under broodies, and over 3/4 off my hatches like to start pipping on day 18, if they're not fully hatched on day 18. This is currently happening as we speak, actually...

So, I've posted about the phenomenon before and had others share similar experiences. It's safe to day 21 days is a guideline with wiggle room.

I can assume my hatches will probably be early. Would there be detriment to the chicks if I stopped turning on day 16 and started lockdown then? Even if they do, by some odd chance, wait until day 21?

ChickenCanoe · Mar 16, 2016

Not a problem to stop turning 2 days early if they're going to start hatching on day 18.

However, you have to look at why your hatches are always 3 days early.
I would first suspect your temps are way too high.

Jrose · Mar 16, 2016

ChickenCanoe said:
Not a problem to stop turning 2 days early if they're going to start hatching on day 18.

However, you have to look at why your hatches are always 3 days early.
I would first suspect your temps are way too high.

I use conventional temps; 101 at top of egg, 99 at bottom. And every single broody hatch I've done under both hens and turkeys have all hatched on day 18.

Edit; even my turkey eggs hatch 3 days early. On my former post about this we mused about elevation affecting hatches. Also, I seem to have hatches uncannily timed with storms. We've got a storm blowing in as we speak. My few 'on time' day 21 hatches hatched in the absence of a storm. Just an interesting observation...

ChickenCanoe · Mar 16, 2016

Then I would think your thermometers are off.

You have to consider that there's a reason yours hatch at 18 days and all the hundreds of millions of other eggs in the world hatch at 21 days.
Is it extremely arid or hot where you live?

Check item #10 in the following troubleshooting guide.
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00008570/00001/3j

newwestchick · Mar 16, 2016

You can stop turning eggs after day 13, on day 14, so I'm assuming you can lock down early if the air cells look developed? The eggs only need to be turned for the first two weeks (for chickens anyways) after that they have the ability to turn on their own inside the egg.

JetCat · Mar 16, 2016

Jrose said:
Edit; even my turkey eggs hatch 3 days early. On my former post about this we mused about elevation affecting hatches.

the lower pressure at altitude causes brownies in the oven to take longer to cook, seams an egg under a hen or in an incubator would do the same.

anywho, by 16 days the embryo has developed past the point it's no longer necessary to continue turning and you'd be safe stop on that day if you so choose.

JaeG · Mar 16, 2016

First time hatcher here - I used broody bantams. One girl hatched her first chick bang on the start of day 19, pipped on day 18, her second hatched day 20, and her last hatched on day 21. So it happens 'naturally' too.

kuchchicks · Mar 17, 2016

ChickenCanoe said:
Then I would think your thermometers are off.

You have to consider that there's a reason yours hatch at 18 days and all the hundreds of millions of other eggs in the world hatch at 21 days.
Is it extremely arid or hot where you live?

Check item #10 in the following troubleshooting guide.
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00008570/00001/3j

I would tend to agree with this as well, except that the broodies are hatching early as well. I agree with JetCat that it is probably the altitude. Turning can stop after day 14 but that does not mean you need to raise your humidity that early. If you are hatching early maybe raise the humidity to the day before or at the sign of first pip.

ChickenCanoe · Mar 17, 2016

That's why I asked if it was extremely hot or arid. That would affect the broody hatch.

Did the OP ever say where they're located? What altitude?

High elevation incubation (above 5,00 ft/ 1500 mts) means slower embryo growth, not faster.
At sea level, it should still be 21 days.
As air pressure decreases, the big challenge is controlling weight loss.

Coop77 · Mar 17, 2016

I'm currently at day 20 without seeing any pipping yet. So I'm hoping that hatching on day 18 is not becoming the norm.

Lockdown at day 16? Yes, no?

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